Sites across ten countries raise the prestigious Green Flag Award after reaching the international quality standard for parks and green spaces.
Fifty-four parks and green spaces in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkey have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in 2024, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has revealed.
This is in addition to the 2,227 UK winners that received their awards last month.
Several of the European applicants received the Green Flag Award on their very first attempt - a demonstration of their commitment to, and passion for managing and maintaining great spaces for the visitors they serve.
Carl McClean, International Development Manager for the Green Flag Award, said: "Congratulations to all our fantastic Green Flag Award winners this year. Parks continue to be so important at the heart of our communities.”
“These awards are testament to all the hard work done by volunteers and staff who work year-round to look after these valuable parks and green spaces."
New winners this year include Spain’s Senda Mediterraneum - a public garden that forms the landscape of the Plaza Mayor shopping district in Malaga (pictured above). It joins four other Spanish award winners in León, Huesca and Pamplona, all of which have been Green Flag Award winners previously.
Further east in Turkey, Istanbul was recognised for the iconic redevelopment of Büyükdere Atatürk Nursery (pictured below) - an historic horticultural nursery spanning 180,000 square meters and dating back to 1928. The project, conceived with the theme of "Returning to the Roots", was completed in 2023 and includes various functions besides local plant species production.
Horticultural education, which is a part of Istanbul's historical and cultural heritage, is showcased alongside public libraries, nurseries, restaurants, education centres, and recreational areas. Additionally, ecological-themed workshops and events take place year-round.
Portugal once again saw a number of celebrations in the North of the country, with a total of eight winners, including the additional Green Heritage Site Accreditation for Jardim do Passeio Alegre, managed by Câmara Municipal do Porto - the only Green Heritage site outside the British Isles. And a new winner in the country was Casa do Corim - a sustainability hub and learning centre with gardens managed by LIPOR - the municipal waste company for the Greater Porto region.
Other winners including Jonsereds Trädgårdar near Gothenburg in Sweden, Stadtpark Norderstedt outside Hamburg in Germany and the Jardin des Plantes in Nantes, France, all achieved the standard through hard work and dedication and deserve to be recognised.
The Green Flag Award winners map features accredited parks and green spaces around the globe. Explore the various profiles to learn more about our current winners.
